Tuck. Tuck. Tuck.

  The spiraling staircase leading to Hogwarts' Headmaster's office wound ever upward, its stones cool and shadowed in the late hours of the evening. Torches flickered along the walls, their flames casting restless shadows that crawled across the curve of the stair.

  Halfway along the curved stone path, a stern-faced, elegantly dressed woman was seen ascending steadily, her heels striking the surface in rhythmic tucks that echoed through the silence, while the dark mantle over her shoulder swung in graceful arcs behind her.

  She climbed steadily, higher and higher, her expression unchanging, until at last she saw the path come to an end, where she was met with two stone gargoyles, their eyes fixed forward in eternal vigilance, as if daring any intruder to take another step.

  But she was no intruder, and her poise even suggested that she had long grown accustomed to this routine.

  "Fizzing Whizzbee," she muttered, looking squarely at the gargoyles, not so much as a twitch disturbing her stern yet strikingly beautiful face. It was evidently some kind of password, however oddly out of place it sounded.

  At her words, the stone guardians stirred without a beat, the gargoyles slowly sliding aside to reveal what lay beyond.

  "Albus, I have just received—"

  The moment she took her first step, words were already on her lips; clearly, from the way she had marched up the spiraling staircase without pause made it clear she was eager to address them to whomever was on the other side.

  But her words caught in her throat, halted midway by surprise. It wasn't just Albus Dumbledore in the room; someone else was there too. And what truly made her pause was the fading white mist of a Patronus—the same one that had appeared at her office not long ago, which was also precisely the reason for her abrupt visit.

  "It seems I wasn't the only one sent the message…" She glanced between the two before walking to the desk and taking a seat beside her colleague.

  "Filius, I take it you've just arrived as well?"

  "Ah, yes, Professor McGonagall. The message… well, it seemed rather urgent, wasn't it? And Professor Caesar specifically instructed to go directly to the Headmaster."

  "Mine too…"

  Together, they then turned their attention across the desk to Albus Dumbledore, waiting for his word. Clearly, both were here with purpose, and it was evident their reasons were the same as well.

  "I do not have the answers you seek, Minerva, Filius," the old wizard said, glancing between them with a rare seriousness, the usual twinkle in his eyes absent. "The messages I received were the same as what Filius told me, and I imagine yours were no different, Minerva."

  "A great danger… terrible enough to engulf the entire world?" McGonagall murmured.

  "Indeed. For Professor Caesar to summon us all, the threat he speaks of must be as serious as he claims—enough to endanger the entire world."

  "Did he share no other details with you?" she asked again. "Besides that we should come immediately?"

  "No…" Dumbledore said quietly. "Only that more would be needed."

  "More?" McGonagall's eyes widened for a moment. "More than just us?"

  "Indeed." While saying, his gaze then turned to the corner of the room, softening as it landed there.

  "Fawkes."

  The phoenix lifted its head at the sound of its master's call and, with a graceful beat of its wings, glided across the chamber to perch upon the desk. Dumbledore reached out, running his fingers along the fiery plumage with practiced familiarity. Then he spoke, though not in any human tongue—his words flowed as a melodic sound, half-song, half-incantation, filling the room with an almost tangible resonance.

  "I haven't heard the Headmaster speak Phoenix-tongue in ages…" Flitwick murmured, listening to the melodic exchange between the bird and its master.

  "I suppose she's being tasked with bringing the others who will accompany us," McGonagall added.

  "Thank you, my friend…" Dumbledore murmured, the last words in English, while the phoenix cocked its head, as if understanding, giving a solemn nod in response.

  And with that, the mythical bird spread its wings wide and vanished in a flare of fire, briefly bathing the chamber in golden light.

  "Who else is coming?" McGonagall asked as soon as Fawkes had disappeared.

  "Alester... as well as two old friends from the Department of Mysteries…" Dumbledore replied.

  "Unspeakables?" McGonagall arched a brow.

  "I can understand Alester, Headmaster… but are the other two truly necessary?" Flitwick, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, also asked, slightly taken aback by the names.

  "I hope they won't be, but… they are all great magi nonetheless. It's best to be prepared for the worst," Dumbledore said, nodding firmly to the two. "We shall depart immediately once they arrive."

  ---

  Meanwhile, the other messengers that Maverick had scattered across to Europe and America were also finding their way to their targets, with some already having located their intended recipients and delivered their messages.

  The ones that took longer did so because, when Maverick scattered his Patronuses through the portals, he had only a rough idea of where each person might be. However, even if his guesses were off, it would only delay their mission briefly; so long as they were fueled with enough magic, the Patronuses would unfailingly find their targets.

  The speed of his Patronus was not to be underestimated. Just because the corporeal took the form of a bird doesn't mean it flew at the same speed. In other words, its wings cut through the air far faster than any bird born of feather and bone—magic, obviously. Nor was this unique to him; all corporeal Patronuses could travel at extraordinary speeds, which was precisely why so many capable witches and wizards relied on them as messengers.

  One found its target in France, while in England, apart from Hogwarts, a few also flew to Buckingham Palace—specifically to the two great mages serving the country's monarch. In America, one touched down at the Garling residence, another at the home of the Scamanders, and a third and fourth sought out the Walker twins.

  Basically, every witch or wizard of the Great Magus rank or higher, whom Maverick was personally acquainted with or otherwise counted as a friend, was included to receive the message, with each summons subtly tailored to its recipient.

  And beyond the magical world, a silver Patronus was also seen gliding over the northern outskirts of New York, threading through dense forests and sleepy towns until it reached a vast clearing where a sprawling mansion loomed. Its mission was not for a witch or wizard, but for another extraordinary group—the most numerous besides the magicals who shared their world.

  The mutants. Well, maybe not all of the adult X-Men under Charles would prove particularly useful for the kind of interception Maverick had in mind, but some, say, Ororo, aka the Storm, could undoubtedly play a role in it.

  The rest, he didn't mind them joining as well, though the best they could do was observe from inside their X-Jet. On the other hand, their presence would serve as a boost to their reputation, and Maverick didn't mind lending a helping hand in that regard.

  The Patronus hovered over the clearing for a moment first, because finding its target was not as easy. There was no clear magical trail to follow like its other brother birds did, and only had some descriptive instructions its master had installed as a reference. Eventually, though, the clever fellow managed to spot the bald man in the wheelchair, the one he was programmed to recognize.

  When it slipped through the topmost window, it immediately raised alarms for the individuals in the room. Obviously, after all, how often does one welcome a glowing white raven?

  Yes, two others were nearby as well, quietly occupied with their own matters when it appeared so inexplicably, but the bird paid them no attention. It had one job, no, two. So it flew straight to its designated target, then flapping its wings to hover steadily and marked the first task as complete. Then, it moved on to the next...

  "Professor Charles Xavier…"

  Amid the vigilant gazes of everyone present, the ethereal bird of white mist began to speak. At first, it startled them—a glowing bird was not something you saw every day, and a talking, glowing bird even less—but soon the familiarity of the voice settled over the room.

  "For fuck's sake, it's the damn magical kid…" The hulking, ever-vigilant Wolverine was the first to relax, recognizing the voice, and then retracted his claws before glancing toward the professor.

  "Let's hear it first…" Charles added a beat later, raising a hand in a gesture.

  "This is a recorded message," brother bird continued. "Our world is facing a grave threat from an extraterrestrial civilization, which I have confirmed will arrive on our planet in less than 24 hours. It will be a fleet of no fewer than 50 spaceships, each as large as a football stadium, fully armed with advanced technology and ballistic missiles powerful enough to obliterate entire cities. I have sent summons to all the forces representing our world, including you, the mutants. So as soon as you are able, please arrive with your team at location XX. I await your arrival..."

  The Patronus, once its mission was complete, did not linger for a second longer and dissipated before the now shocked and speechless people inside.

  What they would do next—whether to believe the message or ignore it—was entirely up to them.

  ---

  Meanwhile, back at Maria's property, after Maverick had sent out his Patronus, it wasn't just about sitting around waiting for everyone to arrive. Aside from the non-combatant Skrulls, everyone had something to do and was keeping themselves busy.

  Fury, tasked with keeping the World Security Council and world leaders updated, was busy coordinating with S.H.I.E.L.D., along with his trusted sidekick ready to assist whenever needed. Yes, Coulson was there too, now. When Fury asked Maverick if he could "magic the guy" over, Maverick had him teleported straight to the location

  Isabella was also on Fury's team, since her objective wasn't much different from his mission to live-transmit everything happening here to the World Security Council. So Maverick figured, they might as well work together.

  Of course, Isabella wouldn't just be streaming live to the World Security Council and the muggle world leaders. Her audience would also include the entire magical world—meaning every magical household, pub, or public station with a Magic Vision installed would be able to watch everything unfold in real time.

  Maverick was sure the World Security Council would keep all news of the alien invasion from the public, and the muggle governments would have to follow that order. That said, if the skirmish does reaches the Earth's surface, it would be a different story, and the muggle leaders would have no choice but to admit what had happened.

  But if everything went according to Maverick's plan, that scenario would never come to pass, and Ronan's forces would be repelled long before they even reached Earth's atmosphere.

  The magical world, however, was different and did not have many rules on spreading news of what happens in the muggle world to their general public. The problem only occurs when it is the other way around—news of the magical world spreading among muggles. Therefore, as long as the Statute of Secrecy wasn't broken, there was nothing, legally or otherwise, stopping Isabella from broadcasting the whole event live to the entire magical community.

  As for Talos, well, most of the capable Skrulls under his command were no longer breathing, unfortunately, but their science guy was still a very useful asset. Maverick had him work on a device to pinpoint exactly when and where Ronan's fleet would drop out of their space jump, which, if he could pull it off, would be extremely advantageous for the Earthlings side.

  Even though Maverick already had a rough idea of when the Accuser's forces would reach the planet, knowing the exact time and coordinates would save him a ton of prep time for the ambush and, more importantly, greatly reduce the risk of any attack reaching Earth's surface.

  And this guy, Morax, when Maverick first asked if he could pull it off, didn't even flinch—just called it "simple" and dove right into the work. The result remains to be seen for now, but he really couldn't be underestimated when it came to creating or tweaking tech. After all, he had managed to turn a Quinjet prototype into a full-fledged spaceship capable of surviving and navigating outer space in under a day.

  There was no way Maverick would let a genius like that slip away from him. Besides, his outer space project was about to kick start, and the Skrulls were basically looking for a safe place to settle, and out of the Kree's reach. If Maverick could provide them both conditions, he would thus gain another powerful ally working under him.

  Maverick and Danvers weren't idle either while everyone else was busy with their own tasks. With Danvers, Maverick felt she still hadn't quite reached the level she had when Ronan's forces arrived on Earth in the Captain Marvel movie, so he wanted to handle that little detail.

  Specifically, she still hadn't mastered flying with her photon energy powers, and without that, she was basically as useless as any regular person for the plan Maverick had in mind to confront Ronan.

  And it wasn't just about flying. Once she mastered it, the photon energy would cover her entire body like an invisible armor, a seriously overpowered layer that could make her almost invulnerable to most attacks. It was absolutely necessary for her to get it under control before Ronan's forces arrived.

  But there was only one way he could think of—quick enough—to get her instincts to pick up that ability.

  So he took the blond for some good old training, and presently, they were seen perched atop a magical construct Maverick had created, hovering a couple of kilometers above the Earth's surface, while he explained what the exercise was all about.

  "…You see, we magicals have this special ability—call it magical sense, or a sixth sense if you prefer—and it lets us gauge how strong someone is just by sensing their aura."

  "Aura…?" Danvers tilted her head, arms crossed over her chest, clearly puzzled.

  "Life energy, magical energy, or, you could even call it threat level. And for that reason, I'm certain you've barely scratched the surface of your abilities..."

  "…"

  "Uh-huh… uh-huh…" Danvers tapped her chin thoughtfully as she considered Maverick's explanation. "…so you must have a plan, then. Otherwise, you wouldn't have brought me all the way up here..."

  "I do, in fact." Maverick gave her a knowing smile. "My plan is simple. Let your instincts take over, and let your subconscious master full control of your photon energy powers as quickly as possible."

  "Riiight…" she dragged the words, a hint of skepticism in her tone. "And how, exactly?"

  "It's very simple… you just have to… not die."

  "I what—"

  "Goodbye, Danvers."

  You... aaaaaaas... hooooole!

  Maverick watched her fall, her final shout echoing in the wind, while two beams of photon energy shot past him from his left and right, missing by a mile, clearly fired by Danvers as she struggled to control herself under the pull of gravity.

  Anyway, she's all on her own now. Whether it's the adrenaline pumping through her veins or the fear of turning into meat paste, she has to find a way to control her power if she's going to be truly useful for the ambush against Ronan.

  It was in a similar way that she learned it in the original movie, and he basically just applied the same settings here.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Man, this chapter nearly drove me insane. I had all the ideas and points lined up in my head, but no matter how much I wrote, deleted, rewrote, and deleted again, nothing felt right.

  But I couldn't just skip it either. I felt like before the big gathering, this part was necessary... you know, to show how the other groups were reacting and what Maverick's side was up to.

  At first it turned out way too long, filled with repetition, so I scrapped a lot and only kept the Hogwarts reactions, brushing over the rest. Then I ran into some plot holes and had to patch those up too… and yeah, this is what I ended up with.

  I'm honestly still not happy with it, but I really did my best. Hopefully it was at least readable. I think I lost a few brain cells pulling this one together. Sigh.

  —————————

  BOOOM!

  Like thunder splitting the heavens, a golden comet streaked through the clouds, tearing across the sky at supersonic speed.

  It didn't take her long. Not even halfway through her fall, Danvers had already brought forth the violent energy within her, bending it completely to her will. If her photon blasts could once be compared to a child's water toy gun, now they were more like a high-pressure fire hose.

  The difference was huge, just as he had guessed. His magical sense also confirmed it, that the power radiating from her had reached an unprecedented level, flaring in warning and telling him not to take it lightly.

  BOOOM.

  BOOOM.

  From above, Maverick's eyes followed the human comet of bright orange tearing through the clouds, each explosive boom echoing as she blasted through one sound barrier after another.

  Tsk. It's like one moment she's learning to crawl, and the next, she's out running marathons.

  Sigh. Whatever. Anyway, with this overpowered crazy chick as a thug, the plan's going to go off even smoother.

  And why would he call her crazy? Well, because instead of slowing down after those few minutes of getting the hang of it, her objective seems to have changed — or, to be precise, she was now heading straight for him.

  Heh. He chuckled, and a slow grin spread across his face as he watched her blaze upward, maybe three, even four times supersonic. Crazy… really crazy.

  But his face didn't look worried in the slightest, if anything, he seemed almost eager, to see if he could take her fist.

  Woooosh! BOOM!

  Another deafening boom as she crossed yet another barrier. No matter how confident he was in his own cheat, he couldn't help but feel a bit envious of her.

  That's Mach 6 now. How long has it been? Five minutes since she learned to fly?

  Closer. Closer.

  The sound of rushing air filled his ears as he watched the glowing figure swell larger in his vision, her fist drawn back and her body wrapped in blazing light.

  There was no way he could take her cosmic-powered punch with his bare flesh and bones, no matter how strong the Archmage physique made him.

  With that thought, he outstretched both hands. Golden runes began to form before his palms, spinning, connecting, and expanding into a massive, radiant construct — the Shield of the Seraphim. In the same instant, a Protega Maxima from the mage system layered behind it, both glowing with power as he braced for the incoming strike.

  What? Was that going a bit overboard? No. This woman, in this state, could clean through spaceships like they were paper, so he wasn't taking any chances.

  That said, the grin now spreading across his face belied any hint of caution.

  Woosh!

  BOOOOM!

  The impact hit with a deafening blast. In a mere fraction of a second, cracks echoed as the Shield of the Seraphim pulsed violently, the air humming with the collision of raw magic and photon energy in a blinding explosion of light.

  "Ah, hell..." Maverick muttered through clenched teeth, his coat whipping wildly around him from the sheer wind, heat, and raw power radiating from the aftermath.

  Meanwhile, their collision echoed with a terrifying blast, a shrieking roar that seemed to make the sky itself scream. The broken clouds around them burst apart in every direction, exploding outward in a circular shockwave that painted the heavens gold and orange for a fleeting moment.

  It was absolutely the right call to double over the shields. They held, barely, but they held. But he wasn't about to let her overpower him just like that. So in the next moment, he clicked his tongue and pumped even more magic into the barrier, and golden veins of energy raced across its surface, pulsing brighter with every heartbeat.

  KRAK-BOOOOM!

  And across from him, Danvers mirrored his expression, her entire body radiating molten light, her grin fierce and unrelenting like a blazing sun in front of his eyes.

  "Haha. Kid, you asked for this… so let Aunty Carol give you a little lesson!"

  "Crazy woman… I was only trying to help…"

  KRAK-BOOOOM! KRAK-BOOOOM! KRAK-BOOOOM!

  Neither side gave an inch. One grinning like a madwoman, the other, Maverick, gritting his teeth. His barriers held firm, resisting her photon storm, while the energy from both forces mixed and churned like two suns fighting for dominance.

  Then… Maverick's eyes suddenly gleamed, a smirk spreading across his lips. If anyone's getting spanked, it's you. And with that thought, he released the defensive spells, both at once.

  Her punch ripped through empty air, missing his face by mere inches, the heat from it vaporizing the air between them and scorching the side of his cheek. Maverick twisted, moving with perfect timing, his body turning as his arm pulled back. He channeled all his power into his fist, and with one precise swing, he drove it straight into her ribs.

  Cough!

  BOOOOM!

  The explosion that followed shattered the sky once again. The shockwave spread outward in a roaring burst, tearing through the clouds and leaving the air trembling in its wake.

  Danvers shot the opposite direction like a blazing comet, streaking across the heavens at incredible speed. Trails of golden energy and fiery mist followed her path, lighting up the atmosphere as she flew through miles in seconds. Her faint groan echoed through the wind before fading away, her glowing form shrinking into the distant horizon.

  But just as Maverick exhaled the breath he'd been holding, he saw the fleeting, blazing energy—after letting out a BOOM—suddenly shoot upward, then make a sharp 90-degree turn, aiming straight at him again.

  "Fuck!"

  ---

  Some time earlier

  Inside Maria's property, Maria, Fury, Coulson, Isabella, and Talos sat in the living room, hashing out their roles for when Ronan's fleet arrived. While the heavy hitters would hold off the attacks, the rest would mostly monitor—but they were well aware it wasn't going to be as easy as it sounds.

  "Ricky said he'd have Uncle Ali and some of his people stationed with us too. We'll be inside Uncle Ali's magical construct, and with the barrier up, we can record everything from all angles…" Isabella said, glancing around and tapping her finger on the table.

  "I still can't believe I'd be stuck directing a movie. I'm a Level Six agent, ya know. I should be on a fighter jet, blasting the alien bastards. All that kid's fault. The director forced me to follow orders."

  Maria arched an eyebrow from across the couch. "Can you even fly a jet?"

  "I…" Fury opened his mouth, closed it, and muttered, "not the point."

  "You know, we could take the Quinjet." Talos leaned forward, a subtle gesture toward Maria punctuating his words. "Lady, if you're as good a pilot as you say you are… we could really make a difference..."

  After learning that Earth would be raising its full force—at least eight unfathomable beings as strong as Maverick, someone the green alien from their very first meeting had considered demigod-level—Talos was now confident they could, at the very least, drive Ronan's fleet back to where it came from.

  "I say we do as Mr. High Councilor said. Just sit this one out, sir," Coulson said, fixing his tie and looking at Fury, his boss.

  And then, all of a sudden, BOOOM! They all heard a deafening sound from outside and jumped in alert.

  "I think it's coming from above…"

  With solemn expressions, everyone moved toward the door and stepped outside into the yard.

  "What in the goddamn—" Fury muttered in his typical language, "is happening now?"

  Their heads tilted all the way back, and high above, somewhere within the blanket of clouds, they saw a massive crater-like formation, and at its center, a blazing star.

  Fury's gaze stayed fixed on the blazing point, and his brow creased, lips pressing into a thin line. "Didn't the kid say he was taking Danvers out for a... little, training session?"

  And just as he uttered, they all saw that same blazing point suddenly get veered sideways like a rocket, slicing through the clouds and bursting them apart in its wake.

  BOOOM! And seconds later, a deafening crack, sharp as a gunshot, rolled through the air and reached their eardrums.

  Then, just as suddenly, they watched the blasted-away blaze of light come to an abrupt stop.

  "My god… are they… fighting? Is that what's causing this?" Maria voiced what everyone was already thinking.

  But no one made any comment, too awed—or too terrified—by what they were seeing. Their eyes tracked the blazing point streaking across the sky again, making a sudden, sharp 90-degree turn, streaking even faster before slamming head-on—bright orange against dark gray.

  They separated, gained some distance, and crashed into each other again.

  And again. Once, twice, thrice... they zigzagged, twisted, and collided in bursts of light and thunder.

  Boom!

  Boom!

  Each impact split the heavens apart like craters in the sky, then the two streaks would spiral around and clash — like a furious, dazzling dance of destruction.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Within minutes, the blanket of white clouds overhead looked like Swiss cheese, full of holes punched clean through.

  "At this rate, they'll set off alarms across the whole damn country," Fury muttered. "Or did the kid's—what's it called—wand, ward, whatever—cover the whole city this time and not just this property? 'Cause if not, every goddamn newspaper will have this on the front page tomorrow."

  But before anyone could answer, a voice — rough and composed, but at the same time unfamiliar — drifted from behind them.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  "You are absolutely correct, boy from Muggle America. Our dear Speaker seems to be showing a rather casual ignorance for the sacred Secrecy Act."

  Click. Click.

  Everyone snapped their heads toward the sound, while Fury and Talos instinctively had their guns leveled.

  It was a group of elaborately dressed figures, standing not far away, and except may be Isabella, none of them had the faintest clue who they were at first.

  At the front was clearly the leader: a middle-aged man in blue robes draped over a sharp suit, a gray half-top hat on his head, and a neatly trimmed silver beard. To his right stood a woman in a sleek mix of modern and traditional attire, her pointed hat giving her a commanding look. Beside her, a shorter man with a goatee and round glasses wore a robe over a suit, like a scholar ready for action.

  To the supposed leader's left stood a tall, battle-hardened man. His reinforced tactical coat was lined with glowing patterns, and he had only one natural eye — the other a prosthetic that pulsed faintly blue. A jagged scar ran across his cheek, and his missing arm had been replaced by a metallic prosthetic that hummed quietly, intricate glowing lines tracing its surface. From a glance, he was exactly the kind of guy you didn't want to mess with.

  Next to him were two more figures, cloaked in dark robes pulled over their heads like hoodies. Their faces were hidden, and the way the robes draped over them gave off an eerie aura that made the air itself hum.

  Fury's jaw tightened at the sight, and the words left his mouth before his brain caught up. "Which one of you assholes just called me a boy?"

  By the time he processed it, his eyes widened in recognition. Standing before him was someone he knew from S.H.I.E.L.D. records — the Chief Warlock, they said. Albus… goddamn… Dumbledore.

  —————————

  "Professor McGonagall…"

  Unlike the rest, as soon as Isabella saw the group of people, she instantly recognized the party. Albus Dumbledore—obviously, what witch or wizard wouldn't?—but McGonagall was an acquaintance of hers from a few years back when she and Maverick visited Diagon Alley, and she had a very good impression of her from that short but brief encounter.

  "Ms. Garling, what a lovely surprise," McGonagall said, smiling and looking her over as Isabella walked up to her for a quick hug. "You've grown into quite the fine young witch, haven't you?"

  Isabella blushed a little at the sudden compliment, bobbing her head. "Thank you," she said, then glancing to the rest, added, "Headmaster Dumbledore." She stretched her hand for a shake to the old, renowned wizard as a polite gesture. Although her father's face would turn blacker than the bottom of a pot whenever this old man's name was mentioned, that did not mean she had to mirror his view. Besides, Dumbledore was her fiancé's headmaster—in other words, his boss.

  "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Garling," Dumbledore said warmly. "I've heard quite a bit about you from Professor McGonagall—and of course, from your fiancé."

  Hehe—Isabella chuckled sheepishly, then, glancing back to her party who stood somewhat dazed for not knowing what to do—especially the rude uncle who looked like he had seen a ghost—she proceeded to introduce them.

  "I'm not sure if Ricky mentioned this in his message, but this is Talos. As you can see, he's… not exactly human. Nor a magical creature."

  Her first instinct was to point out the obvious odd one in the group, especially since everyone's eyes were already glued to the green-skinned alien.

  "An extraterrestrial being," Dumbledore said, finishing her sentence with a hint of fascination. "How extraordinary." He looked over Talos with open curiosity, and the alien suddenly felt like he was being locked onto by some incomprehensible power, and already, beads of cold sweat was sliding down the side of his face.

  "…And this is Maria, a No-Maj... former U.S. Air Force pilot. And these two are Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson and Fury," Isabella introduced everyone with her in the same breath.

  BOOM!

  BOOM!

  BOOM!

  The deafening thunder cracks had not relented once while she was talking, and had been echoing continuously from above them.

  "And what about the person who seems to be having a wonderful time playing with Professor Caesar?" Dumbledore asked, glancing briefly overhead while his eyes narrowed slightly, sensing fluctuations feeding back to his magical sense.

  "That's Carol Danvers," Isabella replied. "Also a former U.S. Air Force pilot—and, well, as you can see, she's also... rather special."

  "Special?" the man beside Dumbledore repeated with a scoff, raising an eyebrow as he watched the flashes above. "I've never heard of a muggle capable of matching an archmage blow for blow." He shot a sideways glance at Dumbledore. "Albus, what can you tell—"

  "Fascinating," Dumbledore interrupted softly, his eyes bright with intrigue. "The energy coming off from her—dare I say—even I'd have to think twice before taking her lightly."

  "Is she a mutant?" McGonagall chimed in, also raising her head to the continuous booming thunder cracks.

  Dumbledore did not answer; instead, he glanced at Isabella and raised a brow.

  "Well, Ricky said she's not a mutant," Isabella said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, "but an enhanced human. Like Captain America—Steve Rogers."

  The rough-looking man frowned, giving her a skeptical glance. "You're telling me muggles made that? An enhanced strong enough to go head-to-head with an archmage?"

  "Let us not dwell on the matter for now, Alastor," Dumbledore said mildly. Turning back to Isabella's group, he smiled. "Allow me to introduce my companions. Albus Dumbledore, at your service. This," he gestured to the woman beside him, "is my colleague and dear friend, Professor Minerva McGonagall. And this gentleman here is Alastor Moody, a distinguished great magus from the British Ministry of Magic." He then paused briefly, casting a quick glance at the other two clad in black robes, and added, "Also great magi from the Ministry of Magic, who, because of their profession, I cannot reveal their names."

  The two in question, after Dumbledore's introduction, gave a rather friendly nod in return to everyone.

  "You, boy, isn't it time you dropped that piece of metal…" The rough-looking man, who turned out to be Alastor Moody, suddenly pointed to Fury, who was still holding his gun and pointing it at them.

  At his words, Fury finally managed to break out of his daze and then lowered his weapon, while letting out an exhale he didn't know he was holding.

  "With all due respect, wizard, I'm no boy," he said flatly. "I'm an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., reporting directly to the Director."

  Moody let out a scoff, but Dumbledore raised his hand to signal that enough scrutinizing had been done.

  "Now," Dumbledore continued calmly, "could you tell us what's happening here? Why Professor Caesar seems to be having such a… flamboyant exchange with the enhanced lady above us?"

  "Oh… Ricky said he was going out to conduct some training with her. But I also don't understand why he's making it so noisy."

  "Noisy?" Moody's single eye twitched. "Little girl, that is blatantly ignoring the Sacred Secrecy Act. Aren't you afraid of the consequences? And as an accomplice, you would also have to answer for it—"

  "I'd like to see who would dare to question her, boy."

  A sudden, heavy voice cut through Moody's ranting, and everyone instinctively turned to their sides and saw a man that, for lack of a better word, looked like Hercules himself, with hair as majestic as a lion's mane, arms crossed over his chest, descended from above. Two others were there behind him—a man and a woman, both bearing a strong resemblance.

  "You…" As soon as Moody laid eyes on the figure, his pupils dilated, recognizing who it was, and he couldn't help but swallow a dry mouthful.

  "Hah…" Fury chuckled quietly behind Isabella. Who's the boy now, you one-eyed, straight-out-of-a-comic-villain-looking motherfucker. Of course, he didn't say it aloud, but was pretty happy when Moody, the asshole who had been calling him a boy, received the same treatment.

  "Daddy!" Isabella ran over and wrapped her arms around the man. "I thought you'd be the first party to show up…"

  "Teacher Simon, Teacher Sarah." Stepping out of her father's embrace, Isabella then turned to the pair standing beside him. "Were you both called as well?"

  "The kid mentioned in his message that we should find your father," Sarah answered, giving a light shrug. "So here we are."

  "We've actually been here for a while," Edward added, smiling as he ruffled her hair.

  "Indeed, we've been here for a while—or you could say we all, by some coincidence, arrived at the same time, isn't that right, Garling?" Dumbledore curled a smile, looking at Edward, then turned his head once again in the opposite direction.

  Subsequently, an exaggeratedly tall woman materialized, as if a veil around her had dropped dramatically. And likewise, she wasn't alone either; with her were a man and a woman, but they looked considerably older than anyone else currently present in the area. They too came down, standing atop a construct of magic, and landed near them.

  "That kid really has the audacity to summon all of us," the tall woman said, grinning as she swept her eyes across the gathering.

  "Old woman, weren't you supposed to notify Volkov? And what about Takamura?"

  Maxime shot him a withering glare. "Your mouth is as foul as ever." Then, glancing at Isabella, she smiled. "Little girl, you better not learn all of your stupid father's habits, lest little Raven might reconsider marrying you."

  "The hell's that supposed to mean—"

  "Now, now," Dumbledore cut in quickly, seeing Edward's temper flare. He turned to the pair behind Maxime and brightened. "Nicolas. Perenelle."

  "Albus. I see your condition has improved somewhat. Have you found a solution already?"

  The man speaking was none other than Nicolas Flamel, the grandmaster alchemist and once Dumbledore's mentor in the art of alchemy. At his words, both Edward and Maxime raised surprised brows and glanced at Dumbledore to hear what he had to say. Even McGonagall, Moody, and the two black-robed figures also cast curious glances, surprised by it.

  "Not quite, but yes, I have indeed found some way around it," he said with a smile and glanced overhead once again. "All thanks to my dear colleague…"

  "The kid never mentioned something like that to me," Edward said, glancing up and down Dumbledore as he washed his magical sense over the old man. "Good for you then, Dumbledore. If what you say is true, then you owe my pupil a grand favor."

  "Hah… why are you trying to sound so high and mighty, mad-lion?" Maxime scoffed. "Just because you are his teacher doesn't mean it has anything to do with you…"

  "No, no," Dumbledore said, chuckling. "I owe Professor Caesar a great deal, and I don't deny it."

  BOOM!

  BOOOOM!

  "I believe it's about to come to an end," Dumbledore said suddenly.

  At his words, everyone glanced upward once again, following Dumbledore's line of sight, and saw that with the last crack of thunder, the two trails of light had finally stopped moving.

  "Might I suggest we go inside?" Taking his eyes from the skirmish above that seemed to have come to an end, Dumbledore then turned and looked at Maria. "My lady, I hope a few old people like us are welcome at your home..."

  Maria, who had been silent all this time with all the big shots arriving in inexplicable ways, finally spoke her first words. "Uh… yes, sir. Please. But my living room isn't that big; I hope everyone won't mind." Even though everyone there had their presence restrained, she couldn't help feeling nervous under the man's piercing gaze and seemingly harmless smile.

  Dumbledore let out a soft chuckle. "I'm sure, with all of us here, we can find a way to make a bit more room, my dear."

  —————————

  Inside Maria's home.

  Woosh, woosh—tuk, tuk, tuk… Woosh, woosh

  In the middle of the living room stood Albus Dumbledore, wand in hand, moving it in graceful sweeps, up and down, left and right, turning on his heel like a maestro before an invisible orchestra.

  The space was indeed a little cramped, just as the homeowner had said, and with a dozen or so people already gathered and more expected to arrive, everyone quickly came to the same conclusion that they needed a bit more room. After all, a proper discussion required some breathing space, right?

  So, the old wizard took it upon himself to handle the matter. It was nothing worth mentioning, really. For an accomplished archmage, such things were merely small inconveniences, tiny problems waiting to be solved.

  At first, when Dumbledore asked Maria for permission to "make some space," she wasn't quite sure what he meant. She thought he might be planning to conjure a few extra tables or maybe shift the furniture around a bit, so she just nodded absentmindedly.

  "Feel free to make any changes you wish, sir…" she said, and then what happened next nearly made her jaw drop to the floor.

  A few startled curses slipped out before she could stop them. Magic… what an incredible power, she thought, glancing around in awe.

  Before her eyes, what had once been her simple twenty-by-twenty-foot living room began to stretch and grow. No—expand. Within seconds, it was at least three times its original size.

  The humble coffee table at the center transformed into a grand, ornate table, and the sofas multiplied around it as if on cue, changing into exquisitely crafted chairs and forming a perfect circle. She counted quickly, then gulped. There had to be at least twenty.

  In other words, her small, ordinary living room hadn't just become a "bit bigger," as the grandfatherly wizard had said. It had been transformed into something more like a full-fledged conference room, and she couldn't help but gulp again at the sheer, breathtaking power of these otherworldly people she had come to know over the past week.

  But... for real though, them chairs and that desk lookin' real slick and mad expensive.

  "That, sir… is it gonna stay like this forever?" she asked, eyes on the old wizard, who was nodding approvingly at his handiwork with a satisfied smile.

  "The transfiguration would eventually revert, but the space itself, unless altered by another mage, will remain stable, sustained by the ambient magical energy," he explained, turning to her. "Worry not, my dear. Once everything is complete, I shall revert the room back to norma—"

  "Please don't!"

  "I mean… can you not, humble sir? I… uh, really like what I'm seeing, thank you very much," she said nervously, while the rest of the magicals exchanged amused glances.

  The old man couldn't help but let out an audible laugh at her reaction, while a few others tsked under their breath, muttering "Muggles" or "No-Majs." But to her credit, only Dumbledore, the two other archmagi, and perhaps McGonagall could transfigure such finely detailed craftsmanship. It really does look "mad expensive," even for wizards taste.

  And just as the strange silence settled, with everyone's amused glances fixed on Maria, the sound of the front door opening made everyone turn.

  ---

  Outside the house.

  Thumph!

  The sound of a dense hum echoed as Maverick and Danvers suddenly appeared out of nowhere, in front of the property's doorstep.

  "Uh… I feel like I'm gonna throw up…" Danvers grimaced the moment she appeared, bending forward slightly. Even with her body enhanced far beyond any normal human, the nauseating rush of apparition hit her full force.

  "You'll get used to it." Maverick curled a smile, hands in his pockets, and gestured toward the door with a nod of his head. "Come on, we've got a lot of company…"

  "Company?" Danvers straightened up and got herself under control, giving him a sideways glance. "So the people you said would come are finally here?"

  "Some…" Maverick said, sliding one hand out of his long coat pocket and flicking his finger. Instantly, Danvers' battered Kree uniform repaired itself, the damage from their earlier ruckus disappearing as it looked good as new.

  Sighing, Danvers shook her head. "I really envy you people…" She flicked off the nonexistent dust from her shoulders after Maverick's spell finished. "Strange drinks to boost stamina, heal injuries, and with just a flick of your fingers, you get to clean yourself up… come on, wizard, you're not seriously telling me I can't learn some of that magic? Not to brag, but I pick up skills pretty fast."

  "It's not about skills. Like, I don't have photon energy powers like you, and you don't have magical energy. Simple." Saying that, he opened the door and stepped inside, with Danvers following.

  "Hmm? Did we come into the wrong house?" Danvers gave a puzzled glance around the… well, much larger living room than she remembered her friend's house having.

  "Carol!"

  "Maria… what happened here—"

  Maria came running over, grabbed her hand mid-sentence, and gestured behind her with excitement. "Look, the wizards made my living room so much bigger!"

  "I can see that..."

  At the same time, Maverick walked up to the group, smiling, and headed straight to his father-in-law first. "Teacher…" he greeted respectfully.

  "I see you've been busy, kid." Edward arched a brow at his student.

  "More or less…" he said, curling a smile, then glanced at the two beside him. "Teacher Simon, Teacher Sarah, thank you for coming."

  Glancing over at the rest, he nodded likewise. "Headmaster, Olympe…" He gave a brief greeting to the two archmages first, then paused at the elderly-looking couple. A genuine smile spread across his face as he approached them and extended his hand. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Grandmaster and Lady Flamel," he said, bowing his head slightly in respect.

  "Oh no… this is our duty, young Maverick. I must admit, I found it hard to believe at first when Olympe delivered your message… but seeing proof right here before our eyes, I'm glad you chose to seek our help," Nicolas Flamel said warmly.

  "This is our home too, young man. Of course we would show up," Prenelle added just as warmly beside her husband.

  Smiling, Maverick then turned to the others, greeting each of them one by one before finally motioning for Danvers to step closer.

  "Everyone, this is Carol Danvers," he said. "She'll be a key ally in helping us stop the invasion that's coming our way."

  Short and precise, he skipped over the details of her abilities and the reason for her importance. Those explanations could wait until the full team was assembled and it was time to break down the plan.

  "And these," Maverick continued, glancing her way, "are people from my world. My teacher, Edward Garling." He gestured toward his mentor first, who offered a single nod, though Maverick noticed the subtle tremor in the man's pupils—a reaction he barely masked. Understandable, really. After all, feeling that kind of dense energy from a muggle of all people would shake any mage of his level.

  "…Albus Dumbledore and Olympe Maxime, along with my teacher, are as capable as I am, if not more." Keeping the introductions brief, he finished in a single breath, continuing, "The rest… well, they're not to be underestimated either. Some of the finest minds and strongest wands the magical world has to offer."

  Danvers had also put on her soldier mask, looking solemn and letting Maverick handle the talking. She gave short nods as he spoke, her posture firm, though her eyes couldn't fully hide the curiosity bubbling inside her head.

  With the introductions over, everyone moved into the newly "redecorated" living room, ready for Maverick to finally explain the full situation. His message via the Patronus had only scratched the surface, enough to stir urgency, but far from the whole picture. There was much to go over, and not much time left to do it.

  When the group settled, Maverick took the seat at the head of the long, ornate table. No one objected, even though he was the youngest there… well, Isabella didn't count. On one side sat the witches and wizards, and on the other were Talos, Morex, Danvers, Fury, Coulson, and Maria.

  The other Skrulls, aside from Morex and Talos, stayed outside, knowing well they wouldn't have much to contribute to this particular discussion.

  Maverick leaned forward slightly, clasping his hands. "Once again, everyone, thank you for coming on such short notice. First of all, I want to make it clear that everything I said through my Patronus was completely true. Our world is facing a grave threat from a force unlike anything we've encountered before."

  He gestured briefly toward Talos and continued, "As you can see, extraterrestrial life is very real, and has likely existed far, far longer than our own civilization. So long, in fact, that their technology has advanced to a point where even we, as magicians, might mistake it for magic."

  A few soft scoffs rose from the wizards' side of the table, but Maverick didn't pause. This wasn't the time to put anyone in their place, and truthfully, he preferred to avoid arguments until after the operation was over.

  His comparison between magic and science wasn't meant as flattery. The being he referred to—the Supreme Intelligence—was living proof of what he meant. If non-magicals could look at magic and call it miraculous, then it was only fair for magicians to see the Supreme Intelligence as a miracle born of science.

  "Some time ago, Talos, Ms. Danvers, and I intercepted a high-ranking soldier from the very force that's now preparing to invade our planet," Maverick went on. "But before eliminating him and his entire unit, I went through his memories... and what I found there is precisely why I decided to summon all of you here without delay."

  "Then share it with us, kid. The memories," his teacher, Edward, interjected calmly the moment Maverick paused speaking.

  "I will, Teacher," Maverick replied with a subtle nod. "But I'd prefer to wait until the rest have arrived before going over them... as well as, along with the plan I've been working on to counter this threat."

  He paused, scanning the room, and seeing no objections, took it as agreement and continued. "In the meantime, Talos here can fill everyone in on what we're up against. The enemy that's coming are his people's most hated foes, known as the Kree… and as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is... my friend."

  "Therefore, at least until our operation against the approaching alien army is complete, I will consider him an ally, and I hope that after I show you the memories, you all will do the same. So feel free to raise any doubts you have about the Kree… about who they are, how powerful their forces truly are, what kind of numbers we'll be facing, and what to expect when they arrive."

  Talos didn't take offense at Maverick's blunt remark about considering him only a temporary ally. After all, they had known each other for less than a week, and only a fool would place full trust in someone so quickly.

  "When the operation is over," Talos watched as Maverick turned his head to him and said, "When Ronan and his forces are repelled, and judging by how sincere you are in helping us, I promise to help you find a way to your problem."

  "I understand completely, Mr. Wizard," he replied with a wry smile. What else could he say? He didn't blame Maverick. If the situation were reversed, he might do the same—or maybe not. He wasn't sure he could be as considerate as this Earthling was being toward a group of foreign species they had barely met.

  But regardless, this very Earthling, with all his power, had promised to help—and that spoke volumes, touching his heart.

  "Right then," Maverick said, sweeping his gaze over everyone at the table once again. "Until the others arrive, please direct all your questions to our alien friend here."

  Immediately, all eyes turned to the green-skinned humanoid, and Talos, the man in question, felt as though a mountain of pressure had landed on his shoulders.

  But this was no time to cower, he thought. His people, his wife, and his child depended on him.

  So, with a resolute nod and a long exhale, he glanced around at the expectant faces, bracing himself.

  The room fell silent for a moment before the first question came from a rather unexpected party: Alastor Moody, ever the scrutinizer. He was blunt, asking directly what Talos' purpose was in coming to Earth in the first place.

  Then Dumbledore, Maxime, Flamel, and Edward followed with their own questions—inquiring where he came from, details about the Kree Empire, everything he knew about them, and even more about the general life forms beyond their planet.

  For over an hour, Talos talked nonstop, satisfying both the scrutiny and the curiosity of the mages, until finally the rest of the groups Maverick had personally invited began arriving.

  The Scamanders appeared first, followed by the two great mages representing the British Muggle monarch.

  Ali, Maverick's right-hand man, arrived with Lupin and… Maverick was a bit surprised to see Sirius Black, whom he clearly hadn't asked to bring.

  Additionally, only Takamura, the wizard from Japan, arrived from the ranks of Archmages who was not really an acquaintance of Maverick. Although, that can't be entirely true, after all, the old thing had once made a generous donation to him from the goodness of his heart.

  As for the remaining three — well, Maverick didn't bother to find out. He hadn't personally sent ravens to them anyway; instead, he had asked his teacher Edward, Dumbledore, and Maxime, to inform them of the gathering. Apparently, they had made contact, but whether or not they would actually arrive remained to be seen.

  And finally, just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Charles and his team of mutants arrived as the last party. Their X-Jet, aka the Blackbird, touched down with a deafening roar, its powerful engines rattling the house and sending shudders across the yard.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  You can find this story on Webnovel, Fanfiction, and ScribbleHub, all under the same author name: RyanFic. Updates drop first on Webnovel!

  Thank you so much for your support. It means the world! ????